New call to delay elections
The Labour administration at North Lanarkshire has called for local by-elections and May’s Scottish Parliament elections to be delayed due to the pandemic.
Two new councillors are due to be elected in March to fill vacancies in Thorniewood and Fortissat, while the Scottish Parliament elections are scheduled for May.
However Labour councillors, and the trade union UNISON, are asking the Scottish Government to postpone all elections to protect staff who would need to work on them.
Current restrictions also mean little can be done in the way of traditional campaigning by candidates.
North Lanarkshire Council depute leader Paul Kelly said: “With the highest levels of restrictions set to continue for the foreseeable future, now is not the time to be asking the public and council staff to risk their own health to take part in these elections.
“We already know that schools cannot be used as polling stations for our by-elections in March, which means the potential for greater footfall at other locations.
“This is despite the government’s own advice recommending that members of the public avoid crowded spaces.
“Further to that, many of our elderly and vulnerable have been staying indoors unless for essential reasons for over a year, with some being effectively housebound through shielding rules. As a result, many will rightly feel apprehensive about making their first journey outside their home to a busy public space to cast their vote.
“The last thing we want to see are elections with rock bottom turnout levels because of people’s fears and anxieties about risking their health and further anxiety for our staff who have been on the frontline in dealing with this crisis.
“Therefore, we would strongly recommend that the Scottish Government intervene to postpone our council byelections in March and the Scottish Parliament elections in May.”
An SNP spokesperson said:“As the First Minister has said, we expect this May’s elections to go ahead as scheduled.
“This is a decision for the Scottish Parliament, and in December MSPs unanimously backed legislation to make sure the election on May 6 can take place fairly and safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Scottish General Election (Coronavirus) Bill contains contingency measures for in-person voting supported by appropriate physical distancing, the potential for the election poll to be held over more than one day and an increase in numbers of people voting by post.”